England breeze to knockout stages
Records fall in big win over Panama
Nizhniy Novgorod – England recorded their biggest World Cup finals win by thrashing an ill-disciplined Panama 6-1 yesterday to breeze through to the knockout stage after just two games.
A hat-trick from captain Harry Kane, two from John Stones, and a beauty from Jesse Lingard completed the crushing victory.
The result also confirmed Belgium’s qualification for the knockout stage and means Panama exit the tournament alongside Tunisia.
The records tumbled for England on an easy afternoon by the River Volga.
The rout was the first time England have scored more than four goals at a World Cup finals since winning tournament in 1966.
It was the first time in England’s history they have managed five goals in a first half and Kane became the first England player to score a World Cup hat-trick since Gary Lineker in 1986.
It is also the first time they have qualified for the knockout stage since 2010, and the biggest victory so far at this tournament.
Intriguingly, it also means they are level on points, goal difference and goals scored with Belgium in Group G. The two sides meet in Kaliningrad on Thursday.
England took the lead in the eighth minute when John Stones powered home a header from a Kieran Trippier corner, held up by the referee because of wrestling and pushing by the Panamanians.
England extended their lead the from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute after Lingard was brought down in the box by two defenders.
That opened the floodgates. Lingard scored the game’s best goal in the 36th minute, a 20yard curling shot past a helpless Jaime Penedo, then Stones added his second four minutes later, another header, following an intricate England free-kick.
Following Panama complaints, the goal was referred to video assistant referee for offside, but allowed to stand. Kane then scored his second penalty in first-half injury time after he was almost farcically wrestled over at a corner, despite further Panama complaints. Kane’s hat-trick was completed in bizarre fashion in the 62nd minute after a Ruben Loftus-Cheek deflected off the English captain’s heel into the net.